On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17...

25
On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed after being shot down over separatist-controlled Donetsk region. All 283 passengers and 15 crew members were killed. Boeing 777-200ER airliner crashed near Torez, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, 40 km (25 mi) from the border with Russia in the area controlled by the Russia-backed militants. Eurocontrol, a European air safety organization, claimed that the plane was flying at approximately 10,000 metres, which was an authorised height; Ukrainian authorities had closed the airspace at lower altitudes. 36

Transcript of On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17...

Page 1: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed after being shot down over separatist-controlled Donetsk region. All 283 passengers and 15 crew members were killed. Boeing 777-200ER airliner crashed near Torez, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, 40 km (25 mi) from the border with Russia in the area controlled by the Russia-backed militants. Eurocontrol, a European air safety organization, claimed that the plane was flying at approximately 10,000 metres, which was an authorised height; Ukrainian authorities had closed the airspace at lower altitudes.36

Page 2: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

Almost immediately after the Boeing was shot down, Igor Strelkov, the commander of the Russia-backed combatants wrote the following on his social network page at 17:50 Moscow time:

“In the Torez area, the plane AN-26 was shot down just now. It’s lying around somewhere behind the “Progress” coal mine. Well, we warned them not to fly in “our sky”. And here is the video confirming this yet another “birdfall”. The bird fell behind the spoil pit, it didn’t touch the residential sector. Civilians were not harmed.

There’s also information about a second plane shot down, possibly an SU”

Within few hours, soon after information started spreading on all major news networks, that the Malaysian Boeing airplane was missing over the territory of Ukraine, Strelkov deleted this message. However, it was already screenshot by numerous internet users or saved in cache.37

Page 3: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

NATION NUMBER

Australia 27

Belgium 4

Canada 1

Germany 4

Indonesia 12

Malaysia 43

Netherlands 193

New Zealand 1

Phillipines 3

United Kingdom 10

Total 298

PEOPLE ON BOARD BY NATIONALITY38

Page 4: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

The Dutch Safety Board is still carrying out the investigation which is expected to be completed by October 2015. Both American and Ukrainian officials declared that a surface-to-air missile strike is the most likely cause, and if so, then the missile was fired from a mobile Soviet-designed BUK missile system (NATO reporting name: SA-11 “Gadfly”) as this is the only surface-to-air missile system in the region capable of reaching the altitude of commercial air traffic.39

On July 17, 2014 along the road N21, connecting Donetsk and Luhansk, and at the time controlled by the Russia-backed militants, the same BUK was spotted moving from Donetsk to Snizhne, from the area of which (Snizhne) the missile was fired.40, 41

Page 5: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

A photographer for the French magazine Paris Match photographed this BUK launcher around 9.30 in the morning of July 17, 2014 on the road N21 in Donetsk, controlled by the “DPR” militants.42

Two hours later that day, the BUK was spotted in the town of Zuhres, also controlled by the Russia-backed militants.43

Page 6: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

Later the same day, the BUK was spotted in Torez and Snizhne. All locations, at which the footage of the BUK was taken, were confirmed by independent journalists and investigators of Bellingcat and Correct!V.44

Torez. The BUK already offloaded from the truck it was carried on, indicating the readiness for action.45

Snizhne. The BUK driving under its own power through Snizhne.46

Page 7: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

In an interview, which was published on 23 July, 2014 to a Reuters reporter, Anton Zverev, Russia-backed militant leader Alexander Khodakovsky stated that the militants possessed a BUK missile system. To Russian media, however, he later denied his own words concerning the separatists’ possession of a BUK.47

Page 8: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

In September 2014, a preliminary report by the Dutch authorities indicated that MH17 was brought down by a multitude of objects, which pierced the plane at high velocity, and that there was no evidence of human or technical failure.48

Jeroen Akkermans, Dutch RTL News correspondent travelled to the crash site several times and uncovered fragments that were examined through forensic analysis by experts from the British Defence & Security Intelligence & Analysis - IHS Jane’s. They linked the damaged, hour glass-shaped fragment to a 9N314 warhead, which arms at least one type of the Buk system’s missiles. Jeroen Akkermans handed the fragments over to the Dutch authorities. It will be part of their investigation.49

Page 9: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

Mo Maslin, 12, Evie Maslin, 10, and Otis Maslin, 8, died together with their grandfather Nick Norris.50

Page 10: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

EPA

Reuters/Maxim Zmeyev

Page 11: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

News Corp Australia has published in video, in which the Russia-backed militants are seen marauding the belongings of the victims of the MH17, right after the crash.51

Page 12: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August to September

August 2, 2014.Thousands of people attended a rally in the centre of Moscow in support of the “LPR” and the “DPR”. The organizers and speakers were demanding the liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the Russian army and “retaking” of the “Russian Kiev”.52

People holding the flags of so-called Novorossiya, the union of the “LPR” and “DPR”, and Russian flags.

The banner shows portraits of Putin and Girkin and says “Everybody knows them. Russian commanders! Whoever is against, that person a traitor.”

Page 13: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August 16, 2014. Missiles (in special containers)for Buks are being transported near the border with Ukraine near Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Rostov Oblast, Russia.53

After the successes of the Ukrainian army in regaining control over the territories in the Eastern Ukraine in July, more Russian heavy military machines and equipment were spotted moving towards the Ukrainian border.

August 19, 2014. Russian military vehicles on the road outside Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov region.55

August 19, 2014. A Russian military truck loaded with Msta-S self-propelled howitzer drives along the road outside Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov region.54

Page 14: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

In late August, the Russia-backed militants conducted a major counter-offensive with significant support of regular Russian army forces and penetrated further into Ukrainian territory. The last weeks of August and the beginning of September saw an extreme intensification of fighting, battles and clashes occurred in a vast range of locations.55

Page 15: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August 7- September 2, 2014The battle of Ilovaisk began on August 7, 2014, when the Ukrainian government forces, consisting of regular Ukrainian army units and volunteer battalions, began attempts to retake the city of Ilovaisk from the control of the Russia-backed combatants. Ilovaisk is strategically located between Luhansk and Donetsk, and taking Ilovaisk meant cutting off military supply lines between the two cities.56

Ukrainian soldiers are briefed by a commander before fighting commences against the Russia-backed militants, close to Ilovaisk, near Donetsk, Ukraine, Aug. 10, 2014.57

Page 16: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August 18-19, 2014Ukrainian forces made several attempts to enter Ilovaisk during the day of August 18, 2014 and achieved success on the night of August 18-19. The Ukrainian army and volunteer battalions were able to enter the city and raise the Ukrainian flag over the government buildings.58

Ilovaisk August 19, 2014

August 20-21During August 20, 2014 the Ukrainian army fought off numerous insurgent counter-attacks. Street battles took place across the city, and at least nine Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the fighting. Following this, the Ukrainian Donbas Battalion requested reinforcements. On August 21, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine reported that 25 percent of all troops from special battalions killed since the anti-terrorist operation began, had been killed in Ilovaisk.59

Russian T-72 tank destroyed by the Ukrainian government forces on August 20, 2015

Page 17: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August 24-26, 2014

Ukrainian government forces in Ilovaisk were completely encircled by the “DPR” militants and Russian regular army forces. Ukrainian soldiers started reporting seeing Russian regular army troops on 24 August, whose presence increased in the next few days. A large number of Ukrainian personnel were trapped inside Ilovaisk. Russia-backed militants launched repeated artillery barrages from the nearby villages causing heavy casualties amongst the trapped government forces.60

August 29, 2014After days of being under siege in Ilovaisk, commanders of the Ukrainian forces in the city attempted to negotiate an agreement that would allow them to withdraw from the city.61 The Russian president Vladimir Putin in the early morning of 29 August made the following statement:“I call on the forces of insurgents to open a humanitarian corridor for the Ukrainian armed forces, who found themselves surrounded, in order to avoid senseless sacrifice, to let them leave without any hindrance from the combat zone, let them rejoin their families, mothers, wives and children and also to provide medical aid to the wounded as the result of the military operation.”62

“DPR” chairman Alexander Zakharchenko confirmed that an agreement had been made, and said that the Ukrainian forces were required to leave their armoured vehicles and ammunition behind as a condition of the agreement.63

Page 18: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August 30, 2014. The massacre.The Ukrainian troops began to move out of Ilovaisk in a column of sixty vehicles. The column advanced 10 kilometres, along the corridor, but was then surrounded by Russian and insurgent troops, who opened fire on the column with mortars and heavy machine guns. Vehicles exploded, and the column was obliterated. The Ukrainian soldiers attempted to flee, but many were captured by the Russian-backed forces. One fleeing Ukrainian soldier described the situation as “a real meat grinder”. At least 100 soldiers were killed from the ambush, with many more injured or taken prisoner. One militant commander said he had taken 173 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner near Ilovaisk and would use them as laborers to rebuild destroyed Donbass cities. A Ukrainian official said that, in total, more than 500 Ukrainian soldiers had been taken prisoner by the Russia-backed forces. It is estimated, that over 1000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 100 civilians died in the battle and massacre of Ilovaisk.64

A burying ceremony of an unidentified soldiers at Kushugumskoye cemetery. Allegedly the bodies are of soldiers of the 93rd, 51st and 24th brigades and the Donbas Battalion killed during the battle of Ilovaisk in south-eastern Ukraine.66

Captured Ukrainian soldiers65

Page 19: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

August 24, 2014. The Russia-backed militants of the DPR conducted what they called a “parade” of Ukrainian POWs: they marched them (around 50 persons) under an armed convoy through the downtown of the Donetsk city. Eggs and plastic bottles were thrown at the prisoners. This is a direct violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which forbid maltreatment of POWs.67

Page 20: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

Aug 25, 2014. Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) captured Russian paratroopers from 98th Guards Airborne Division located in Ivanovo, Russia. All were captured in Donetsk Region. The paratroopers themselves, as well as Russian officials explained the presence of this Russian army personnel on the territory of Ukraine as “they got lost and accidentally crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border”.68, 69

Mitrofanov Artyom

Romantsev Ivan

Savasteev Vladimir

Generalov Alexei

Page 21: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

Pochtoev Yegor Melchakov Ivan

Goryashin Andrey Arkhipov Sergey

Page 22: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

At the same time on August 25, 2014 fresh graves of paratroopers from Pskov, Russia, were discovered at the cemetery next to the 76th Guards Airborne Division training camp by Russian journalists.70

Page 23: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

On August 27, 2014, after these pictures gathered media and internet attention, the flowers, ribbons and even the names of the dead were removed from the graves. The journalists, who were trying to investigate the deaths of paratroopers, were assaulted, had stones thrown at them and received threats.71

Page 24: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

On September 5, 2014, after continuous talks, the representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the Russia-backed militants signed a ceasefire protocol at Minsk, Belarus. However, this did not affect the course of the war, as the Russia-backed militants continued their attacks in violation of the ceasefire. It did, nevertheless, facilitate the process of prisoner exchange.72, 73, 74

Below are the 12 points of the agreement:

1. To ensure an immediate bilateral ceasefire. 2. To ensure the monitoring and verification of the ceasefire by the OSCE . 3. Decentralisation of power, including through the adoption of the Ukrainian law “On temporary Order of Local Self-Governance in Particular Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts”. 4. To ensure the permanent monitoring of the Ukrainian-Russian border and verification by the OSCE with the creation of security zones in the border regions of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. 5. Immediate release of all hostages and illegally detained persons. 6. A law preventing the prosecution and punishment of persons in connection with the events that have taken place in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. 7. To continue the inclusive national dialogue. 8. To take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Donbass. 9. To ensure early local elections in accordance with the Ukrainian law “On temporary Order of Local Self-Governance in Particular Districts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts”. 10. To withdraw illegal armed groups and military equipment as well as fighters and mercenaries from Ukraine. 11. To adopt a program of economic recovery and reconstruction for the Donbass region. 12. To provide personal security for participants in the consultations.75

Page 25: On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 …thewarinukraine.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Final-1...On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17/MAS17) flying from Amsterdam

The Minsk Protocol signatories, from left to right: M. Zurabov (Russia), A. Zakharchenko and I. Plotnitsky (the “DPR” and “LPR”), H. Tagliavini (OSCE) and Leonid Kuchma (Ukraine).

During the negotiations: second from the left is Leonid Kuchma (Ukraine), third from the left is H. Tagliavini (OSCE) and fourth from the left if M. Zurabov (Russia).

A 15 km buffer zone was established for each side by the Minsk Protocol follow-up memorandum, which was signed later on September 19, 2014. This was never observed by the Russia-backed militants.76